Right now we live in Aurora near the Naperville border in a development (Oakhurst). It's like that a lot here--lots of planned communities and none of them will let you keep chickens. In addition, the towns themselves won't let you keep chickens.

We're renting right now and looking for a house, but we want to be commutable to Chicago (in case dh needs to ever find a new job) and able to keep chickens. Sheep would be a total plus, but honestly I'm not sure we'd find property that we could afford big enough for that.

Does it have to be in Illinois? There are communities in Indiana that are commutable, and rural enough for chickens and sheep. I know folks in Chesterton who raise chickens, and others with cows. Some of them commute to Chicago for work. We have the South Shore if you like public transport, or Valparaiso has a bus line. South Lake or Porter counties would be good choices, as would the Chesterton area or even west LaPorte county.

Marengo, Harvard, Woodstock (where I grew up and father commuted to Chicago), Crystal Lake, Huntley, Algonquin, etc (basically McHenry County) would all work really well for you. Also, in reference to your earlier question, McHenry County is VERY homeschool friendly.

Mom to two beautiful boys, now in school to be a therapist and help other women with PPD.

Yep it's true Naperville allows them....I live here.....there are a few restrictions ...something like the coops have to be 25 feet from houses and there is a limit on the number you can have (5 I thnk?) but yeah it totally shocked me when I found out. I checked not long ago and they were still allowed.

What's wrong with living in the city? You can have chickens in the city!

1) Too expensive to live in the city. 2) It would take me a year to find an area of the city that fits our family. 3) I need land. Even just 1/4 acre, although coming from a 1/2 acre it's killing me to consider smaller. I grow a LOT of food.

But yes, I found it ironic that the city of Chicago allowed chickens but most of the 'burbs don't.

As for N'ville, five hens won't do it. We used to have 8 and ate every single egg plus had to buy some if I was baking. But good to know. Plus, many of the homes we could afford would never have us on a lot that would wind up with a coop 25' from all the other houses.

"Chicago, IL. Can have unlimited number of chickens if use is only for pets or eggs; cannot have if use is to slaughter. Must be penned.
Evanston, IL. Illegal to keep chickens here, but folks are currently working to get this law changed, so go to council meetings here.
Wheaton, IL. Sec. 14-99. Keeping livestock within city: “It shall be unlawful to keep any livestock or similar animals anywhere in
the city.”"

If you are looking at McHenry County, you probably also should think about HOW you want to commute.

Huntley and Marengo are closest to I90, so are better for car commuting. Neither is on the train line.

Harvard and Woodstock are on the train line but are farther from I90. Woodstock is closer to I90 than Harvard. McHenry is also on the train line, but is sort of an offshoot of the main line so does not have as many trains going to it.

The other thing about Huntley is that it is WAY more developed than it was say 15 years ago and has planned communities that may or may not allow chickens. If you are looking for communities that are the most likely to stay rural, your best bets are Harvard and Marengo.

This was just forwarded to me. I know it doesn't answer the OP question directly, but it looks like a fun tour and a good resource for people who probably know the answer:

All Friends of Urban Chickens,

JOIN US for our first annual
Hen-apalooza: Chicagoland Chicken Coop Tour
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, from 10AM to 3PM
FREE, children welcome accompanied by an adult (but NO DOGS, please!)
The tour is self-guided: make your own route of up to 15 coop locations in Chicago and Oak Park (MAP of Locations).
More INFO via our Facebook Event Page.

AND
REGISTER NOW for Angelic Organics Learning Center's next Backyard Chicken Care Workshop
Saturday, November 6, from 10AM to 1PM.
6400 S Kimbark Avenue, Chicago
(Woodlawn neighborhood @ First Presbyterian Church of Chicago)

Please forward this notice onward, and we hope to see you!
Angelic Organics Learning Center and the Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts (Google group)

Wife to my DH Mama to my two girls '03 and '06 and my sweet 3-'10 I am blessed.